Boat hood



W. A. STARK Dec. 16, 1958 BOAT HOOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1 957 INVENTOR M 19. ,JIflEK ATTORNEYS Filed July 11, 1957 W. A. STARK BOAT HOOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 pap X5 f! w 5 Z7 g w 4 fix INVENTOR ,JIIEEK BY 2 g 7 A ORNEYS W. A. STARK Dec. 16, 1958 BOAT HOOD 5 SheetsShee'b 3 Filed July 11, 1957 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS I Uflilf The present invention relates to a boat hood, and more particularly to a'detachable hood for small boats.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a boat hood detachably secured to small boats to prevent the boat from shipping water and to keep a person dry in raining and rough weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat hood detachable framework which can be applied and removed from the boat by one man.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boat hood of the class described above which utilizes flexible fabric material and which can be collapsed into a relatively small space when removed from the boat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a boat hood of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to apply and remove, and which is quite effective in protecting the boat during rough weather, rain, high winds, and the like.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a framentary perspective view of the invention shown attached to a small boat.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the invention.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the invention shown attached to a boat in transverse cross-section.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the framework shown with the cover removed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of the apex portion of the framework.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bracing structure.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the bracing structure with the bow shown in horizontal cross-section.

Figure 8 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the clamp members shown attached to the gunnel of a boat, the gunnel being shown in transverse cross-section.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 of a modified form of clamp structure constructed to conform to the shape of a gunnel, differing from that illustrated in Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings ill detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a boat hood constructed in accordance with the invention.

The boat hood 213 is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, in use attached to a small boat 21. The boat 21 may be of any conventional type such as a rowboat, skiff, utility boat, or the like, and includes a gunnel 22 having outwardly and inwardly projecting wear strips 23 and 24, respectively, secured thereto.

An elongated arcuate horizontal foundation rod 25, and a similar but reversely curved elongated horizontal foundation rod 26 are provided with flattened forward end portions 27, 28, respectively, which are pivotally secured together by a pivot bolt 29, The arcuate founda- States Patent C lCe tion rods 25, 26 have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the prow of the boat 21 and are positioned just below the outer wear strip 23 of the gunnel 22.

A plurality of clamps, generally indicated at 30, are arranged in longitudinally spaced relation along the foundation rods 25, 26 and each include a horizontal portion 31 arranged in engagement with the gunnel 22, and inner depending flange portion 32 integrally joined to the inner end of the horizontal portion 31 and extending downwardly into the boat 21. The clamp 30 also includes an arcuate portion 33 engaged about the outer wear strip 23 and having a depending upright portion 34 extending therebelow and contacting the side of the boat 21.

A hook 35 is formed on the end of the vertical portion 34 and the foundation rod 25 engages therein. A bolt 36 extends through the hook 35 locking the foundation rod 25 in the hook 35. A web-37 extends between the horizontal portion 31 and the depending flange 32 to reinforce the corner therebetween, as is shown in Figure 8.

A thumb screw 38 is threaded through the lower end of the flange 32 and has a tab 39 on its inner end for engaging the inner surface of the boat 21 opposite to the upright portion 34 of the clamp 30. Cooperation of the thumb screw 38 and the upright portion 34 of the clamp 30 clamps the boat 21 therebetween and secures the clamp 30 in position thereon. Each of the clamps 30 are provided with upstanding ears 40 extending transversely thereacross, as seen in Figure 8.

A bow 41 formed of an arcuate rod has each of its opposite ends engaged in a socket 42 secured at its lower end to the car 40 by means of a bolt 43. The bow 41 extends substantially above the gunnel 22 of the boat 21 in a generally upright relation.

A bow 41a is arranged parallel to the bow 41 forwardly thereof and has a size somewhat smaller than the bow 41 to fit the boat 21 across a narrower point of the beam. The bow 41a is supported at its opposite ends by clamps 30 in the same manner as the how 41 is supported.

A bow 41b is arranged forwardly of the bow 41a in parallel relation thereto and is similarly supported at its opposite ends on clamps 30. The bow 41b is formed still smaller than the bow 41a to fit a narrower portion of the boat 21.

A brace rod 44 has its forward end positioned in a socket 42 secured to an ear 40 by a bolt 43 and extends between the lower ends of the bow 41a to points spaced above the lower ends of the bow 41. A sliding hook 45 has a sleeve portion 46 which is telescopically engaged over the brace rod 44. The hook 45 encompasses the bow 41 to support the brace rod 44 thereon.

A fabric cover 47 is engaged over the bows 41, 41a and 41b and is provided with a hem encompassing the foundation rods 25, 26 to securethe cover 47 thereto. The rear edge of the cover 47 is similarly hemmed and has the bow 41 extending therethrough.

In mounting the boat hood 20 to a boat, the forward end of the foundation rods 25, 26 are engaged under the forward end of the gunnel 22 and the clamps 30 are engaged over the gunnel 22, as illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 8, to lock the bows 41, 41a and 41b in upright position supporting the cover 47 above the gunnel 22'of the boat 21.

In Figure 9, a modified clamp 39a is illustrated by way of example of the form that will be taken by the clamp 30 to cooperate with gunnel 22a and wear strips 23a, 24a on boats 21a wherein these partshave a different shape than that illustrated in the preferred form of the invention. In the modification, the clamp 30a has a horizontal portion 31a and a generally rectangular portion 33a arranged to encompass the wear strip 23a.

The rectangular portion 33a has a depending vertical portion 34a to which a foundation rod 25a is secured bya clamp 35a by means of a securing bolt 36a. The thumb screw 38a and the tab 39a isthreadedthrough the flange 32a in the same manner as, is the preferred clamp 30.

Obviously, the shape of :the clamp 30 and the clamp 30a will be governedby the construction of the: boats 21, 21a.

Having thus described the preferred, embodiments -of the invention, it should be understood, t'hatvnurnerous additional structural modifications and adaptationsmay be resorted to without departing from thescope ,of, the appended claims.

-What is claimed is:

1. A boat hood comprising afiexible fabric panel having converging opposite side edges and a transversely extending rear edge, a hem formedin each of said sidegedges and in said rear edge, a pair of arcuate foundationrods pivotally secured together at one end and, divergingrearwardly horizontally therefrom supported-i respectively in the hems in said opposite side edgesof said panel, an upright arcuate bow extending through thethem'inusaid rear edge, clamp means for detachably securing the lower ends of said arcuate bow rigidly to opposite gunnel portions of a boat and rigidly to the rear endtportions of said foundation rods, a plurality of arcuate' bows arnamed arcuate bow, and clamp means for detachably securing the lower ends of each of said last named bows rigidly to opposite gunnel portions of a boat and rigidly to said foundation rods with said last named bows supporting said panel above said boat.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein detachable brace rods extend between the opposite ends of a pair of said bows to brace said bows in upright position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first named clamps comprise a generally U-shaped member engaged over the gunnel of a boat, a screw shaft threaded into said U-shaped member for clamping against the side of a boat, a bow supporting socket extending upwardly from said clamp, means for adjustably securing said socket to said clamp, and means for rigidly securing said foundation rod to said clamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 558,401 Lobee Apr. 14, 1896 745,656 Paine Dec. 1, 1903 2,453,422 Ellsworth Nov. 9, 1948 

